THE ANGST, THE WORRY, THE FEAR, THE UNEASE: ALL THOSE FEELINGS WE THINK OF AS.....

Jenny Robertson BA RHN
Aug 18, 2015
3 min read

ANXIETY: I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all “been there” at some point in our life; perhaps it was an uncomfortable, overwhelming or frightening situation that brought on these feelings and left us experiencing some (or all) of the following:

Sweaty palms
Flushed face
Digestive issues, upset stomach
Shaky
Shortness of breath
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Numbness or tingling sensation
Sleep disturbances
Muscle soreness, tense back and neck
A feeling of suffocation or claustrophobia

At times these feelings are quite appropriate or even expected in a given situation; it’s that natural response to stress. At times, for some people, these feelings seem to “not fit” the given situation or they seem to just happen sporadically in the absence of any particular situation. Our body reacts in the same manner to an actual threat or danger as it does to a perceived threat or danger (it goes into a “fight or flight” protective mode). So our thoughts, emotions and our perception of a given situation impacts our response; our anxiety and the physical experiences associated with it.

When dealing with a milder form of anxiety; so those responses (sweaty palms, flushed face, upset stomach) that seem to fit the given situation, we’ve probably developed our own set of useful coping strategies that work pretty well like:

Deep breathing
Positive self talk
Exercising

For many people though their experience is much greater and the impact it has on their daily life and their health is significant. The coping strategies above may work for them at times but the constant stress can have long-term complications and can impact their health in many ways including:

Placing a burden on the vital organs, especially the heart and blood vessels
High blood pressure
A compromised immune system
Overburdened adrenal glands
Reliance on negative coping strategies
Exhaustion
Extreme behaviours and/or emotional outbursts

It is important that you are, first and foremost, seeking the advise of a healthcare professional for any anxiety concerns. There are also some simple and easy changes that you can incorporate into your daily/weekly routine that can also help significantly:

Dietary:

Essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, fish oil)
Increased fibre intake (pears, apples, peaches, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, lima beans, chick peas, chia seeds, flaxseed)
Good sources of Vitamin B (legumes, whole grains, nuts, fish, eggs)
Good sources of Magnesium (whole grains, fish, nuts, tofu, seeds)
Choose foods that are lower on the Glycemic Index (dark leafy green vegetables, colourful vegetables, berries, black beans, lentils, chick peas)
Avoid sugary, refined food items
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine
Try eating smaller but more frequent meals throughout the day

Lifestyle:

Identify and attempt to reduce/eliminate stressors, negative thoughts and self-talk and negative habits
Establishing a predictable daily routine can help
Engaging in outdoor physical activity is beneficial
Engaging in physical activity that requires a degree of concentration (tai-chi, climbing, yoga etc.)
Deep breathing exercises, meditation, message therapy can be helpful

Supplements:

A good quality multi vitamin
Vitamin B complex
GABA

Be sure to take supplements responsibly, seek the advise of a healthcare professional and choose only GOOD QUALITY vitamins.

If you would like more information, resources and support click here to see how we can work together to incorporate realistic strategies into your current routine.

Sending A Wish Your Way For A Well BALANCED Day

Jenny